My Experience: Using Misoprostol for Miscarriage

My Experience with using Misoprostol for Miscarriage

What to expect when having a miscarriage

So this is not your typical Serendipity and Spice post…there is nothing serendipitious about the information I am about to share but I am sharing with you today something that we don’t like to talk about….the loss of a pregnancy.

As some of you have undoubtably realized…I’ve been off the last few weeks. I haven’t been my typical self, I haven’t been very active– I had scheduled posts and just let them autopost. That is because I’ve been pregnant for the last 2 months and have had intense morning sickness that has lasted all day long since I was 3 weeks along. Unfortunately, at our 8 week appointment we found out that our baby had stopped growing at 6 weeks 5 days and we no longer had a viable pregnancy. While going through the loss this last week I realized there are not many stories out there so I feel the need to share mine so that it will hopefully help another woman going through this sad time.

I am warning you now the following post is graphic and not intended for my typical readers. I have written this post for other women who are at a loss, their heart is breaking, and they have to make one of the hardest decisions of their life. This post is going to walk through every step of my experience using Cytotec / Misoprostol for miscarriage in hopes that it will help other women searching the internet for stories regarding this issue.

So welcome to those women who are an emotional wreck right now– I’m here for you, you are not alone, there’s NOTHING you could have done to change the predicament you are in, and you will be okay! I found that reading other peoples stories really helped me feel better and not as alone….I mean I do have Hubs and he’s great but he just doesn’t get it–it’s not his fault it’s just that he can never be able to experience a miscarriage the same way women do and that’s ok…I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone and I’m truly sorry you are here– but I hope you find some comfort in reading about my experience!

Let me start off by telling you a little bit about me and about my journey through this process:

I’m Melissa- this is not my first miscarriage and this is not my first time using Cytotec (Misoprostol) for miscarriage. About 4 years ago I became pregnant for the first time and my husband and I were elated and told everyone…well at 7 weeks we lost the baby and I had to take Misoprostol/Cytotec (they’re considered one in the same) to help the miscarriage along.

I can tell you from experience that the memory of this will fade, you won’t remember the pain, and this day will turn into a blurry haze in your memory. I will however warn you that one part of this process will be burned into your memory forever and that’s ok– the feeling of passing the sac is a feeling I will never forget and that’s ok…it wasn’t physically painful but it is emotional and that’s what makes us human. A little over a year later I became pregnant again, this time we waited until after the first trimester to tell everyone and now we have a healthy little boy…he is the light of my life…if you start reading my blog you will learn to know him as Little Man. So life will get better– and this will become a distant memory.

Right now I have been pregnant for 9 weeks and 1 day but the baby stopped growing at 6 weeks 5 days. It started off as a normal pregnancy– sore breasts, constant nausea, food aversions, intense sense of smell, you name the symptom I had it. Then all of a sudden last Tuesday all of the symptoms started to subside. I didn’t think too much about it because I have several pregnant friends who aren’t experiencing any symptoms. Hubs and I had sex Thursday night and Friday morning I was spotting bright red. Again I brushed it off as an effect from having sex but I called the doctor anyway because of the blood being bright red. The doctor had me come in immediately for an ultrasound and that’s when we learned there was no heartbeat and the baby had stopped growing over a week ago. My blood tests showed that my hCG levels were at the right level but my progesterone was extremely low…since this is what happened with my last miscarriage we at least know now what to watch for in the future. At that point I was given a choice of waiting to see if I miscarried naturally over the weekend, taking Cytotec/Misoprostol, or having a D&C done….since I’m terrified of surgery I opted to wait out the weekend and if that didn’t work then go for the Cytotec/Misoprostol. Well, my body didn’t pass anything over the weekend and we went back to the doctor yesterday. Since everything looked just like the week before my doctor gave me a prescription for Misoprostol.

So now that you know a little about me and a little about my history I’m going to share with you the timeline of today. I hope this eases your mind with what to expect. Like I said, I found reading other people’s stories very helpful along with this ebook that a group of bloggers put together called Blessings Through Raindrops— the women who wrote this just laid it all out there to share….they held nothing back…and it really helps you to feel less alone during this sad moment.

Saturday- 11:00 am– I’m shaking I’m so anxious! I have a friend who just went through this last week so we’re texting about her experience and talking about the future when we’ll be complaining about swollen feet with our big ole pregnant bellies. Thinking, dreaming, and talking about the future is helping me keep my spirits up and not dwell on the present. I grab my pills and go to the kitchen to get a glass of water– determined to get on with the healing process! I’m referring to this process from now on as the healing process because that is what it is and it makes me feel better to know that I’m in the middle of a healing process instead of the middle of a miscarriage…you must find ways to keep yourself positive and know that everything happens for a reason. My baby passed away over 2 weeks ago and I have come to terms with that– now it’s time to help my body heal so we can try again in a few months. I take 2 pills of Misoprostol 200 MCG orally and one percocet for pain — I figure the percocet will help calm my nerves.

I’ve read about women taking the Misoprostol vaginally but my doctor prescribed it orally– so you can always talk with your doctor about the best option for you. I heard that taking it vaginally helps keep upset stomach and nausea away but I’m not sure…I took it orally last time and my friend took it orally last week so I guess it depends on which way your doctor thinks is better.

12:00pm– I feel some mild cramping so I go to the bathroom to see if anything has started. I’m lightly spotting and not so jittery so the percocet has kicked in– I know percocet is not meant for anxiety but it’s helping– in hindsight I probably should have asked the doctor to prescribe me some anxiety medication but we’re here now and it’s a Saturday so the percocet is working.

1:00pm– The cramps are getting stronger, I’m feeling a bit lightheaded (I’m guessing it’s from the percocet), and I’m still just lightly bleeding.

3:00pm– Hubs went and picked up Chick-fil-A for lunch…I was starving but only able to eat half. My cramps are increasing in intensity but so far there’s not much else to report…light spotting and that’s it. I am going to get the heating pad to help with the cramps though…I have another hour until my next dose of Misoprostol and Percocet…I can tell the Percocet is wearing off!

4:00pm– Taking the second dose. My cramps have increased and are slightly greater than my regular full flow period cramps…but no flow yet still just spotting…in fact I’m spotting less than I was earlier. Last time I only had to take one dose and everything was over in a few hours…this is dragging out all day….argh my stubborn body! I have a deep feeling that this second dose is going to get things going quickly….I’m getting nervous about the pain that’s on the way.

6:00pm– The cramping has started to become more intense but nothing that I can’t handle with some deep breathing. I just passed a few clots and period like bleeding has begun…I’m hoping this is the beginning…I’m so tired.

10:00pm– Taking the 3rd dose…not even bothering taking a percocet because there’s no pain…I really thought everything would be over by now! My friend had everything over in 12 hours…I was hoping for the same…but each body is different so every experience will be different. I’m going to try sleeping…I’m exhausted and the cramps aren’t as bad as they were earlier.

4:00am- Well, I’ve been sleeping– other than passing a clot every few hours and light period like bleeding not much else is happening. I’m taking my 4th and final dose and going back to bed.

Sunday- 10:00am– At least now I feel well rested and STARVING!! But nothing has happened.

Monday 8am– Still nothing except light bleeding and mild cramps. I’m calling the doctor to see if anything else can be prescribed to help move things along….I really don’t want to have a D&C and don’t want to be anxiously waiting over the next few days for something to happen.

Monday 3:45pm– My mom came into town so since nothing has happened we’ve been out running errands all day. We took Little Man to a playdate and walked around the mall and Target to see if maybe walking around will get things in motion. The doctor called back and wants to see me for an ultrasound at 2:30 tomorrow….if nothing has passed (which I know it hasn’t) then we’re going to have to do a D&C.

Tuesday 2:30pm– Still the same….light bleeding, mild cramps, freaking out that I’m going to have to have a D&C. The doctor takes me back for an ultrasound and there’s nothing there. He says that there’s only a small bit of tissue showing up on the monitor and I must have passed everything without realizing it. I’m elated, ecstatic, and completely baffled….I mean I’ve been through this before and know what to watch for….but I’m happy it’s done and I’m on the road to healing!

Tuesday 5:15pm– Hubs and I are in the process of building a house so we go out to see the progress. There’s no plumbing in yet– just the frame of the house and no bathrooms anywhere near by and I feel it. This weird sensation like a bubble pushing out of my vagina and I instantly know what it is. Hubs and I drive home and I run up to the bathroom to confirm my suspicions…. I passed the sac. It was different than before because everything was completely intact….I guess the probing from the ultrasound was the little push my body needed to finish the process. I have no idea why the sac didn’t show up on the ultrasound but I’m taking it as my own little miracle from God.

Wednesday 8am: I feel great. I’m still bleeding moderately and passing a few clots…but the cramping is gone and I feel like my body is fully healed.

I try not to look at this miscarriage as the death of my baby but I look at it as bad timing. I 100% whole heartedly believe that my first miscarriage was Little Man and it just wasn’t time for him to join us– maybe he was sick or something else was wrong. But now he’s here with us….just a little later than initially expected. I believe with all my heart that this baby is my daughter but she just isn’t ready to join us yet and she will be born in the future!

If this post has helped you, please share it and let’s break the silence behind miscarriages…so many women go through this feeling all alone and you’re not alone…NONE of us are alone!

Please leave a comment even if it’s anonymous so I can send my thoughts and prayers your way! Remember, you are not alone and there is nothing you could have done differently. You are a strong beautiful woman and life will be better soon.

Update: I’m happy to share with you that I was correct and my beautiful baby girl was born 18 months after writing this post. Don’t give up hope and know that this too shall pass. Like I said at the beginning of this post, the memories and the pain will fade but there are parts of this experience that will stay with you forever. Don’t be ashamed to talk about your miscarriage with friends and family…you’ll be surprised at how many other women you know who have been exactly where you are right now. HUGS to you mama!!!

Melissa is a busy mom trying to survive the preschool years. She loves a good Pinot Grigio and cuddling up on the couch for the latest super hero movie. Her kids enjoy getting in the kitchen and helping make a mess trying new recipes! Even though she's constantly creating new and delicious treats she usually winds up buying grocery store treats when it's time for her to take snacks for school-- at all of the teachers' dismay.